Estelle c



QIRCUIT CONTROLUNG MECHANISM. APPUCATGN FILED APR.29| I915.

Patented Aug. 5, 1919.

3 SREETS-SHEET I.

314mm. Estelle GRa/zey E. (l. RANEY.

(HRCUH CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION man nmzs. m5.

1,312,454. Patented Au 5,1919.

3 SHEETSSHHT 2.

4 V 3% WWW Estelledlfianqy as, (t Z UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ESTELLE 0. names, or commnvs, OHIO, Assre'non rowan acronyms nucmsmo'cmcuxr BREAKER OOMI'ANY, or commnus, 01110, A conrona'rron or 01110.

CIRCUIT-CONTROLLING MECHANISM,

Patented Aug. 5, 1919.

Application mm A r-n :9, ma. Serial n. 24,802;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Es'mu-n C. RANEY, .a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residin at Columbus, in the county' of Franklm and State ofOhio, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to circuit controlling the adjustments mentionedare highly desir able and, also, that the load conditions under whichthe breaker is, to o n and the load conditions under which e breaker isto close mustbe met by adjusting means that are relatively independent,since 0 ening and reclosing must occur under wide y differentconditions.

Thus, the present invention contemplates the use of a means foradjusting the opening point of a breaker and a means for adjusting thereclosing oint of such breaker, such means bein in ependently regulable.Other features 0 importance consist in the utilization of a trip coilsubject to onesubdivision of a current in parallel with the load and aholding coil subject to another sub-division of such current in serieswith the load, these coils being aitted against each other in operatingthe rec osing mechanism;

The referred embodiment of m invention is s own in the accompanyingrawings wherein similar characters of reference Circuit-ControllingMechanism, of which to gradually descend, During ,(note, heavy lineiitdicating the path of the current). t Fig. 3 shows the dash-pot switchclosed, thus sub-dividing the current throughthe high resistance so thatit passes through a circuit in series and one in parallel with the load,the line of the series circuit and the line of the parallel circuitindicating partial diversion of the current from the series to .the'parallel circuit as the load resistance N comes back to normal.

Fig. 4 shows the load resistance back to normal and the heavy current inthe parallel circuit, the trip coil having operated, and the breakerbeing on the verge of operation.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of a circuit showing two methodsby which I may adjust the sensitiveness of thereclosing mechanism tovary the point of operation thereof.

In the drawings there, is shown a snaretor 1, load circuit wires 2; and3 and t e load indicated at 4. In this Q'nain circuit there isacircuit-breaker 5 hav' g leverage mechanism 6 under the controq of asolenoid magnet 7. Movable with the coreof this solenoid is a laterallyextending arm 8, operating upon the elevation of the core of the magnet7 to raise a switch 9. When this switch 9 is released and permitted todescend by the arm 8, such descent is retarded by daslrpot construction10. From this description it will be seen that, when the circuit-breakeropens, the arm 8 drops and perand this is brought about upon overload orshort-circuit hy the operationof an overload coil 11 which opens a.switch 12 and moves it into position to be latched open by lever 13.Thus, shortcircuit or overload causes solenoid 11 and the switch 12 todeiinergize the solenoid magnet 7 As a result, the circuit-breaker 5opens and the switch 9 is free this gr'wtlmi descent the motors on thecircuit come to rest and the controllers or starting wbox levers arerestored to starting osition.

Reelosing of the circuit-breal er will take place instantaneously uponthe tripping 0! high resistance 17, wire 18, holding the latch 13 andthe consequent closing of the switch 12. This is insured by the spring14 upon the switch 12. The latch 13 is tripped against. restraint ofspring 15 by a solenoid magnet 16 under control. of an index current ina manner to be described.

' Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 represent four distinct stages of the operationfThe comparative blackness of the lines in these figures indicate thecurrent paths.

In the showing in Fig. 1 it will be noted that the conditions are normaland that the current is passing through the load and throu h thecircuit-breaker.

In, ig. 2 the switch 12 has been thrown open by the overload coil 11 andis held 0 611 by the latch 13. The result is that t e circuit-breakerhas opened and the switch 9 has commenced falling. At this" time, themain circuit is, of course, broken butthere is an index current passingthrough a high resistance 17, wire 18, holding coil 19, and wire 20through the load. It will be noted that this holding coil 19 is in series with the load and with the high rcsistance 17. While the switch 5?is" falling, the motors on the circuit and thecontrollers or startingbox levers are being restored to starting position,

Fig. 3 shows. the condition of the ap aratus whenthe switch 9 has fallenand c osed its circuit. The circuit-breaker and the switch 12 arestillopen and the major por tion of the index current is passing throughwill) and wire 20 through the load. Nevertheless there is anotherpossible path for this inden current, which path is in parallel to theload. The path isindicated by lines slightly less black and is throughwire 21, trip C011 16, wire 23, switch 9 and wire 24. According to therepresentation of this figure, the load resistance is low andconsequently the major portion of the index current is passing throughhigh resistance 17, wire 18, load coil 19 and wire 20 through the load,or short circuit indicated by dotted line.

Fig. 4 indicates a reversal of conditions in Fig, 3 in that the loadresistance has practical] returned to normal by the re moval orshort-circuit or other overload condition and the index cuflent,followi the line of least resistanoe is'being practically diverted"through the trip, coil 16. (Compare the blackness of the series circuitthrough the coil 19 with the parallel circuit through tlfe coil 16.)

The core of the coil 16, and the core of theooil 19 are connected by a,rocking arm 25 and the lifting tendency or, the core of the -coil 16isno'zmally resistedby the hold' i tendency of the coll lllfupon itscore.

n operation, it will be understood that breaking pf thecineuit. by,opening of the switch 12 and circuit breaker 5 upon overload orshortcircuit causes the passage of an index current through the h] hresist ance 17 and the holding coil 19 an through the load. While theswitch 9 is falling and before it has closed the parallel circuit, thisis the only )OSSlblB path for the current, and it is in icated by theheavy lines in Fig. 2. When the switch 9 has fallen, however, there isan additional path through the trip coil 16 and in parallel with theload. If, however, the short circuit or overload still exists, themajority of this shunted or index current will pass through the coil 19following the line of least resistance. Naturally the holding coil 19tends to draw 11 wardly upon the rocking arm 25, As t e load resistancereturns to normal, the parallcl circuit through trip coil 16 becomes theline of least resistance for the index current and when the loadresistance has about returned to normal, the trip coil 1 is about readyfor o oration while the hol ing coil 19 is 511 'ciently deiinergized topermit its release of the rocking arm. This is the condition of theapparatus as depicted by Ifig. 4 which indicates the position oftheparts just before the circuitbrealrer has reached closed position.

A feature of utmost im ortance in my improvement consists in t eprovision of a means for varying the point of operation of the reelosingmechanism. I have conceived the idea that it is desirable to have areclosing mechanism which may be set to close at difierent loadresistances. Experiment and application of this idea have demonstratedits extreme utilit Many cases arise in which it may be esired to changethe oint of o ration of the reclosin mecli anism. or instance, there maya number of self-starting motors connected permanently across the line,to start'at 300 amperes. Addition of a number ofmotors or other form ofload to the line might prevent the breaker from reclosing. It ma bedesirable to change the load condition yaddin more self-starting motors,lamps, etc., to t e circuit. ,In this event, it would be ve desirable toadjust the reclosing coil so at the breaker will distinguishbetween thisincreased load and a short-circuit. I have provided several adjustingdevices which may be utilized independently or. to ther to, efl'ect thisdesired ad'ustment. he result is that I have obtain a much wider rangeof action with respect to dead load resistance and have greatlyincreased the value of a reclosing cieuit-breaker. Y

The preferred manner in which I render my device ad'ustable is shown at26' in'all' the 6 ms 0 thefdrawi-ng. It comprises an: justable'supported in a.

"bracket and so related to the core'of the trip eoil' that adjustment ofthe initial position of thiscore may readily. efi'fied by ad- I justmentof the screw Varyingthe initial position of the. core, of course,-varies the air gap'and the strength of the current necessary to renderthe trip coil eifective. In

Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, 1 have also shown a -spring, 28, adjustable byscrew 29, carried upon a bracket 30. This spring is connected to therocking arm use the tensioning of it regulates t c ease of operation ofthe trip coil. 3,

A modified form of this portion of my .15 invention is shown 'i'iiFigifiof thedrawings and com rises, besides t'e adjusting screw '26,'for t etrip coil, a resistance 32. This a resistance 32 is located in theseries circuit through which the index current is designed 2 to pass andis preferablyv adjustable. The

placing of the resistance in the series circuit tends to insure thediversion of a eater portion of the index current through e arallelcircuit with aresult that this 25 para la] circuit is at all timesnearer to the point of operation oi the trip coil.- This, it

will be apparent, insuresamore sensitive mechanism and theadjilstability or varia bility of the resistance results in a struc- 3tare having a wider range ofoperation: The adjustment screw 26 or itsequivalent is of vital importance in a reclosing circuitbreaker,regardless of the arrangement of the circuits'and the mechanism bringing$5 ,aboutsuch reclosing. The resistance 32 is also of importance for thereason ointed out, and'both of these devices may, e used together orindependently. The form of apparatus shown in Fig. 5 is particularly 40desirable under certain conditions and it may be reiterated that myadjustment screw is applicable to any other circuit or mechanism, for Iclaim to be the first in the art to provide a means for varying thepoint of operation of the reclosing mechanism.

Having thps described my invention, what I claim is: '1. In a. system ofelectrical distribution, a source of supplyg'a load circuit, a circuit.5 breaker, reclosing mechanism, controlling means so related to saidload circuit that it will initiate operation of said reelosinginech'an'ism at a given load} resistance, and means for adjusting therelation between :5 -said controlling meansand said load circuitto-render saidcontrolling means operable at any chosen load resistance.

2. In a system of electrical distribution,

a source of supply, a load circuit, a circuit 6 breaker,reclosingmechanism, a controllin means for. said reclcsin mechanism, an'means for adjusting sai nism so that it will operate at any chosen loadre'sistauce. j

reclos'mg mecha-.

3. In a system of electrical distribution, a source of supply, a loadcircuit, a circuit breaker, reclosing mechanism, a controlling means forsaid reclosing mocha ism, means foroperating said reclosing mec amsm ata given load resistance, and means for varymg the value of loadresistance at which said re'closmg mechanism Wlll o crate.

4. In a system of electrical distribution, a source of supply, a loadcircuit, a circuit breaker, reclosing mechanism for said circuitbreaker, a controlling means for said reclosing mechanism, meansoperative after the breaker opens to establish a sub-divided circuit,one rib-division being in series with the load 8I1 another sub-divisionbeing in parallel to t e load, said controlling means eing in theparallel circuitand operative by the current therein, and means'forvarying the point of operation of said controlling means so that it mayoperate at any chosen load resistance.--

6. In a system bf electrical distribution,

a load circuit, a circuit-breaker, reclosing.

mechanism, a controlling means for said reclosing mechanism, a source ofsuppl for said reclosing mechanism, circuits for limiting andsubdividing the current from said source and operating said controllingmeans thereby. and coils respectivelysubject to the sub-divisions, ofsaid current and pitted against each, other in operation of saidcontrolling means.

7. In a system of electrical distribution, a load circuit, acircuit-breaker, reclosin mechanism, a controlling means for saireclosing mechanism, a source of current supply for said reclosingmechanism, circuits for limiting and sub-dividing the current from saidsource and operating said controlling means thereby, coils respecti velysubject to the sub-divisions of said our rent and pitted against eachother in opera tion' of said controlling means, and a rocki'ng levercontrolled by said coils in effecting such'ope'ration.

8. In a system of electrical distribution, a load circuit, a circuitbreaker, reclosin mechanism, a controlling means for said reclosingmechanism, a source of current supply for said controlling means, meansfor limiting the flow of current throu in said controlling device, acircuit where y the hunt a portion of said limited load may 5 currentaway from the controlling device,

I ance.

and means whereby the controlling device may be adjusted to efiectrecloeure of breaker upon various values efjoad resist- 9. In a systemof electrical distribution, a source of supply a load circuit, a circuitbreaker, means mijustably governing the opening ef said breaker under agiven l oad condition, and an adjustable means for controlling thereclosing of said breaker so that 10 it will reclose at any chosen valueof load resistance.

In testimony whereof I hereby afiix my signature.

ESTELLE C. RANEY. J

